Quick answer: To enable Dynamic Refresh Rate in Windows 11, open Settings, select System, choose Display, click Advanced display, and then select a Dynamic option next to Choose a refresh rate. The option appears only when the display, graphics driver, and current configuration support it.
A high-refresh-rate screen makes scrolling, pen input, animations, and motion look smoother, but keeping a laptop display at its highest rate all the time can use more power. Dynamic Refresh Rate, usually shortened to DRR, lets Windows 11 switch between lower and higher refresh rates automatically. You get smoother motion when it helps and reduced display power use when the screen is mostly static.
This guide explains how to turn DRR on, how to confirm it is working, why the option may be missing, and how it differs from a fixed refresh rate and variable refresh rate.
How to Turn On Dynamic Refresh Rate in Windows 11
- Open Settings. Press Windows + I, or open Start and select Settings.
- Select System. It is normally the first section in the left sidebar.
- Choose Display. If you use more than one screen, select the built-in laptop display or the display you want to configure.
- Open Advanced display. You may need to scroll to the Related settings area.
- Open Choose a refresh rate. Select an option labeled Dynamic, such as Dynamic (60 Hz or 120 Hz). The exact rates depend on your hardware.
The change normally takes effect immediately. Windows may briefly redraw the screen while it applies the new display mode.
What Dynamic Refresh Rate Does
A display’s refresh rate is the number of times it updates the picture each second. A 60 Hz screen can refresh 60 times per second, while a 120 Hz screen can refresh up to 120 times per second. Higher rates can make movement feel more responsive, but they can also increase power consumption.
With DRR enabled, Windows chooses between supported refresh rates according to what you are doing. It can use a lower rate for relatively static work and move to a higher rate for supported activities such as smooth scrolling or digital inking. You do not have to return to Settings every time your priorities change.
DRR is most useful on a compatible laptop or tablet because its power savings can improve battery runtime. If battery life is your main concern, combine it with the settings in our guide to extending battery life in Windows 11.
Requirements for Dynamic Refresh Rate
Seeing two fixed refresh rates in the menu does not necessarily mean that DRR is available. Windows needs a compatible combination of hardware and software. In practical terms, check the following:
- You are using Windows 11. Windows 10 does not support DRR.
- The selected display supports a sufficiently high refresh rate. DRR is most commonly found on built-in laptop and tablet panels with 120 Hz or higher modes.
- Your graphics driver supports the feature and is current.
- You selected the correct display in Advanced display.
- Your current display resolution and connection expose compatible refresh modes.
Support varies by device. A machine can run Windows 11 and offer a 120 Hz fixed setting without offering a Dynamic choice.
How to Confirm DRR Is Enabled
Return to Settings > System > Display > Advanced display and check the value beside Choose a refresh rate. If the selected value begins with “Dynamic” and lists two rates, DRR is enabled for that display.
Do not expect the Settings page to behave like a live frame-rate counter. The displayed desktop refresh information may not make every transition obvious. The important confirmation is that a Dynamic mode remains selected and the display works normally during both light and motion-heavy tasks.
What to Do If the Dynamic Option Is Missing
1. Confirm that you selected the built-in display
On a laptop connected to a monitor, Advanced display may be showing the external screen. Use the display selector at the top of the page and choose the laptop’s internal panel. Many systems support DRR only on that panel.
2. Install Windows and driver updates
Open Settings > Windows Update and install available updates. Then check your PC manufacturer’s support app or website for a current graphics driver. A generic or old driver may expose fixed refresh rates but not DRR.
Restart the computer after installing a graphics driver, even if Windows does not insist on it.
3. Check the current resolution
Some displays support their highest refresh rate only at certain resolutions. In Settings > System > Display, choose the resolution marked Recommended, then return to Advanced display and check the refresh-rate menu again.
4. Look for a manufacturer display mode
Some laptops include a display, gaming, or performance utility that controls refresh behavior outside the standard Windows menu. A mode such as “automatic,” “adaptive,” or “panel power saver” can affect which choices Windows shows. Consult the device maker’s documentation before changing a setting whose purpose is unclear.
5. Understand that two fixed rates are not the same as DRR
If the menu offers 60 Hz and 120 Hz but neither option says Dynamic, you can still switch rates manually. Our guide to changing the refresh rate in Windows 11 covers that standard method. Your current hardware or driver simply may not expose Windows DRR.
Dynamic Refresh Rate vs. a Fixed Refresh Rate
A fixed setting tells the display to stay at one selected rate. Choosing 60 Hz generally favors power efficiency, while 120 Hz or a higher supported rate favors smooth motion. DRR gives Windows permission to move between compatible rates, reducing the need to pick only one priority.
Choose a fixed high rate if consistent motion smoothness matters more than battery life or if a specific application does not behave as expected with DRR. Choose a fixed lower rate when you want the most predictable power savings. Use DRR when you want Windows to balance the two automatically.
Dynamic Refresh Rate vs. Variable Refresh Rate
The names sound similar, but DRR and variable refresh rate, or VRR, solve different problems.
- DRR changes the Windows desktop refresh rate according to activity, with smoothness and battery use in mind.
- VRR synchronizes a compatible display’s refresh timing with frames produced by a game or other rendered content, helping reduce tearing and stutter.
A device may support one feature, both features, or neither. Enabling DRR is not a substitute for configuring VRR, FreeSync, or G-Sync for games.
When You Might Want to Turn DRR Off
DRR should be unobtrusive, but a fixed rate can be useful for troubleshooting. Turn DRR off temporarily if you notice flickering, inconsistent motion, a display wake problem, or unusual behavior in a particular app. Return to the Choose a refresh rate menu and select a fixed value.
If the issue disappears, update Windows and the graphics driver before trying DRR again. If it continues even at a fixed rate, the cause is probably elsewhere, such as the display driver, cable, dock, or application.
Tips for Using Dynamic Refresh Rate
- Use the Recommended display resolution unless you have a specific reason to change it.
- Keep both Windows and the graphics driver updated.
- Test battery life over several normal work sessions instead of judging the feature from a short idle test.
- Remember that screen brightness often has a larger battery impact than refresh rate.
- Use a fixed high rate for troubleshooting when an app’s motion looks inconsistent.
- Recheck the setting after a major graphics-driver change or a Windows reinstall.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Dynamic Refresh Rate save battery?
It can. DRR lets Windows use a lower refresh rate during less motion-intensive work instead of keeping a high-refresh panel at its maximum rate continuously. Actual savings depend on the display, brightness, workload, driver, and other power settings.
Does DRR make games run at a higher frame rate?
No. DRR does not increase the number of frames a game can render. Gaming performance depends on the processor, graphics hardware, game settings, and power mode. Games may also use their own display modes or VRR behavior.
Why do I see 120 Hz but no Dynamic option?
A high fixed refresh rate alone does not guarantee DRR support. The built-in panel and graphics driver must support the feature together, and Windows must expose a compatible dynamic mode.
Can I use DRR on an external monitor?
Availability depends on the device, display, connection, and driver, but DRR is most commonly associated with compatible built-in laptop and tablet displays. Select the external monitor in Advanced display to see the modes Windows actually offers for it.
Will DRR change my screen resolution?
DRR is designed to change refresh behavior, not the desktop resolution. However, some fixed refresh choices are available only at particular resolutions. Windows may warn you if selecting a rate requires a resolution change.
Summary
- Press Windows + I.
- Open System > Display > Advanced display.
- Select the correct display.
- Open Choose a refresh rate.
- Select a value labeled Dynamic.
Conclusion
Dynamic Refresh Rate is a practical middle ground for compatible Windows 11 laptops. It keeps a high-refresh display from running at its fastest setting when that extra smoothness is unnecessary, while still allowing Windows to raise the rate for supported motion-heavy activities.
If the Dynamic choice is missing, the most useful checks are the selected display, recommended resolution, Windows updates, and the device maker’s graphics driver. When the hardware does not support DRR, manually switching between fixed rates remains a reliable alternative.
Microsoft provides additional technical context in its official guide to changing display refresh rate in Windows.
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read over 50 million times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.